Improvement in permutation-locks



- UNITED STATES PATENT @FFME JoHN n. vvINFrELD, orU HUBBARD, giorno, AssfreN'oEoironE-HAL i' maar To WILLIAM o.- vvinrrnnn, 0F SAME PLAGE.'

IMPRovEMENrIN PRMQTA'HQWLCJQKS; g

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No, 151,184, dated Maylr9,`l874 applicatifiliiiledil Apr112151s7`4- f 1 To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. WINFIELD, of Hubbard, in the county of Trumbull and State l of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved. Combination-Lock; and thatV the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw-l ings and to the letters of reference marked thereon making a part of this specification.

This invention is in the vnature of an im` provement in combination-locks; and it consists of a combination-lock wherein the bolt is constructed with a notched disk on its inner end, around which a wheel or disk revolves. It also consists of a combination-lock provided with a wheel or disk, constructed with a slideway across its face, and having itted therein a slidingA plate with dog and fence secured thereto, and revolving with said wheel or disk. The uncertain position of the fence adds very much to the difficulty of picking the lock by unfair means.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of lock; Fig. 2, cross-section on line av w, Fig. l Fig. 3, lock with tumblers removed, showingl sliding plate, bolt, lever, fence, and cam; Fig. 4, lock with tumblers removed, showing position of slide and lever when lock is operated; Fig. 5, detailed view of bolt and lever; Fig. .6, edge view of sliding plate and fence; Fig. 7, rear view of sliding plate, showing dog; Fig. 8, plan view of feather-key; and Fig. 9, plan view of tumblers, showing radial slots and feather-keys.

Similarletters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures. Y

A represents the case of a combination-lock, which may be constructed of any suitable material and of any desired size. Through the casing A passes a spindle, B, having secured to its outer end a dial, C, as is common with combination-locks. Fitted into the back plate A of the lock-case is a bolt, D. This bolt has formed on its rearend a disk, a, into the upper side of which is formed a notch, b. Near the front end of the bolt D is pivoted a curved lever, E. The spindle B passes through a central opening, e, of the disk a. Fitting around the disk a of the bolt D is a wheel or disk, F,

v`thisrwneei or dskfr being` so naad' 'and secured tothe disk aasftoadmit of :its revolv- Y ing freely around the same. Across the face of the wheel or diskF is cut aslideway, f. Fitting into the slideway; f is a. sliding plate', G, the upper front surface of whielrhas atlixed to it a felice, g, andtolits upperrear surface a dog, 71,. `Securedto the inner endof the spin- (lle B, in any desirable manner, is` a cam, H,

so that, as the spindle is revolved, the, cam H will to some extent revolve also. The lower part of the sliding plate' G is cutaway, as shown in- Figs. 3, 4, and 7, so .-tliatone endof the cam H will` be received withinsaid eutaway part. Afxed to an axis or arbor, I, is a series' of tu1nblers,i z'. These tumblers may be secured to this arbor, in any desirable way, by keys or otherwise, and they have` placed between them washers or bushings 7c. Each of the tumblers t' has formed in its face a series of slots, l, radiating from the arbor.` Into one of said slots in each tumbler is secured carriers or driving feather-keys m. The axis or arbor I is affixed Ato yagplate, J, so that, as said plate is removed-freni the lock-case A, the

tumblers may be removed entire from the leek, l

for the purposes of adjustment or otherwise.

My combination-lock being constructed substantially as above described, its operation is as follows: lVhen the lock is not in position for unlocking, or, in other words, when the tumblers are thrown out of combination, as the spindle is revolved by means of the knob K, the wheel or plate F revolves freely around the disk a of the bolt D, the fence g revolving around the peripheries of the tumblers i, but not bearing upon said peripheries, and the lever E resting upon the periphery of the disk F in such manner as to bring its upper end in contact with a stop, n, secured to the back plate A', so that any attempt to raise the bolt D when the lock is off the combination is frustrated by the lever E and stop n in the manner mentioned. When the lock is adjusted to the proper combination-that is, when the gatings inthe tumblers are coincident, or in the same line, and the wheel or disk F is revolved so as to bring the fence g immediately over the gatings in the tumblers-the dog h on the rear side ofthe sliding plate G will drop into the notch b formedl in the upper part of the disk a of the bolt D, permitting the sliding plate G to descend in the slideway f, and the fence g to enter the gatings of the tumblers. As the sliding plate G descends, the upper end of the lever E descends by gravity until its upper end is beneath and clear of the stop n, in which position the bolt D may be raised by turning the spindle B. The cam E, engaging in the sides of the cut-away part of the sliding plate Gr, facilitates the raising of the bolt, which `is accomplished by reason of this cam, and also by the dog h on. the plate G in the notch b of the disk a. The same operation of parts takes place when the bolt D is in the locked position. After it is locked the combination is thrown oi' by turning the knob or spindle to the left, which will cause the lower part of the cam H to come in contact with the lower part of the sliding plate G, by this means throwing said plate upward, raising the fence g out of the gatings of the tum-y blers, the dog h out of the notch b of the boltdisk a, and forcing the end of the lever E upward and against the stop n, so that, as before stated, the bolt D cannot be raised from the locked position.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of my lock it will be seen that the operation of the plate Gr, lever- E, and disk a of the bolt operate effcctually as disconcerters, which, together with the fact that the fence g revolves freely around the peripheries of the tumblers, but out of contact with them, leaving no means whereby its eX- act position may be determined, renders my combination-lock exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to pick or open by unfair means.

The combination on which the tumblers are set may be changed as desired by shifting the carriers or feather-keys m into the dierent radial slots, each change of position making a change of combination.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A combination lock, wherein the bolt thereof is constructed with a notched disk on its inner end, around which revolves a wheel or disk, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In a combination-lock, a wheel or disk constructed with a slideway across its face, and having fitted therein a sliding plate with dog and fence secured thereto, revolving with said wheel or disk, substantially as described.

JOHN R. W INFIELD. Witnesses:

ROBERT STEWART,- EMANUEL EUBURN. 

